As the years go by and consumers continue to change and evolve, so do their priorities. That often affects where they shop and how they do business. These days, more people than ever are thinking about the planet and how they can do their part to fight climate change and reduce their carbon footprint. Many consumers do that by choosing to shop with companies that are sustainable and create their products in an eco-friendly way.
If your organization has not considered how to be more environmentally friendly, then make it your next priority. There are many benefits to doing the right thing in this regard, so we are here to tell you some of the perks and how you can make a change this year.
Why Sustainability Needs To Be the Priority
As mentioned, there are many perks to operating a sustainable business. For starters, when you use less energy, you are also cutting your costs. Implementing new tech, installing smart thermostats, and enabling automation can do wonders to cut down on energy usage and provide a quick return on investment in the process.
While you are spending less, you could be earning more by increasing your brand image and attracting new investors. Globally, as many as 86% of people want to contribute to sustainability, and they often do that by shopping with companies that they know have the same morals and love for the planet.
That is why you must use your sustainability efforts and dedication to the planet to improve your brand identity. Add the desire to be eco-friendly into your corporate mission statement, and then mention your efforts to do so in your marketing materials. Also, add a page to your website that describes how you make your products or provide your services without creating a large carbon footprint. Go on social media and describe your efforts, matching that with a colorful and attention-grabbing logo so you can get the eyeballs of the masses.
The point is to focus on sustainable development — where you sit down with your team and plan how to be just as efficient with your output and production without creating a negative environmental impact or releasing necessary pollutants into the atmosphere.
Hire a Qualified Energy Auditor
Many business owners want to be more sustainable, but they don’t know where to start. It can be especially frustrating if you don’t know what type of energy you are wasting. Companies use many energy sources, from natural gas to petroleum and coal. If you don’t know what you have, then you can’t make a difference.
Consider hiring the services of a qualified energy auditor to analyze your office or factory and give you a full energy assessment. During their audit, they will check high and low using a variety of tools to show you where energy is being wasted, how to build energy performance, and an estimate of the potential savings that you could see once you make the necessary changes. In the end, they will present all of this information in a comprehensive report so you know where to start.
It is important to inform the auditor of everything they need to know to provide an accurate assessment, including if you have a remote team. There are ways to reduce remote employees’ carbon footprint, even though they may not directly affect the energy consumption of your physical office. For instance, you could eliminate the use of printers to avoid unnecessary waste or put a policy in place that states that all remote employees must turn their computers off at the end of the shift to reduce energy consumption. The energy auditor will likely be able to give you other ideas, as well.
Simple Ways To Be More Sustainable
While your energy auditor will give you a list of sustainability changes that are specific to your business, there are many other energy-saving strategies that you can start today that will benefit just about any type of operation. For instance, you could look into the addition of solar panels to the roof of your factory so you can use clean energy that does not require the burning of fossil fuels. The cost will be relatively low up front, and you’ll get limitless energy for years to come.
You can also make small tweaks around the office, such as managing the heat and air conditioning during the year. The OSHA safety administration recommends an indoor temperature of 68 to 76 degrees depending on the season, so avoid making drastic changes that could send your utility bills through the roof. Consider putting a cover around the thermostat so employees can’t change the temperature without approval. Also, bring in a contractor to reseal the windows and doors to prevent energy leakage.
If you have an office environment, then try to modify the desk or cubicle layout by placing seating areas closer to windows. The natural light will be enough for employees to see their work without turning on unnecessary fixtures. Also, change all existing lights to LED bulbs, which are often brighter and last longer.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should look to energy-saving strategies for your business. By implementing these tips, you can help the environment and increase your bottom line all at once.
